Dai Sijie’s dramatic tale of star-crossed lesbian love tells the story of Li Min, an orphan in China since the age of three who gets a job as assistant to a botanist. While on the island where they do their research, Li Min falls in love with the botanist’s daughter. The two secretly engage in a sexually charged relationship that blossoms into true love. When the scientist’s son arrives home after some time in the military, the commanding old man forces the son to marry Li Min. When the son discovers that his new bride has had sex before their wedding night, tragedy ensues.